This actually a difficult question. For the past couple years, entry was at 6 pm Sunday evening, even though all the literature said Midnight plus one minute Monday. The arrival time was forced by there being too many people waiting to get in, and the Nevada Highway Patrol and other government entities allowing the time to move up in the name of safety. This year, things are actually saying 6--I presume--pm Sunday. What things? I've forgotten, but I think the permit. Apparently, the opening will be tweeted, giving you the option to wait around in Reno until that message goes out rather than overwhelming Gerlach and Empire.

The Lady with a Lamprey

"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri

seantildawn wrote:I read 6am and now the Survival Guide says 12:01am. Anyone know when it is? I have to asume the SG is correct.

Well, The "Official Gate Opening Time" is 1 second after Midnight. So Monday, August 27th @ 00:01.

If you plan for that arrival time, you should be 100% good. If you are staging at Fernley, plan to arrive in Gerlach about 20 minutes before that and you should be on the playa at about the time the gates open...

If you arrive too early, you might end up in D-Lot (the penalty box of Gate) which would possibly keep you from entering the city for up to 4 hours after the gates open... Having ended up there myself on a couple occasions, I strongly suggest you wait.

Rumors are all fun and dandy, but listening to them and showing up too early puts unnecessary strain on the Gate staff, the Perimeter staff and on law enforcement. Plus, the permit for Burning Man could be placed at jeopardy.

YMMV

Love Rice

Roach: "I feel like in this day and age, every girl should know how to build a flamethrower."

I just got my survival guide and on page 3 it says not to arrive before 6pm on SUNDAY, August 26th. I also read something on the permit PDF to that effect.

The "official" gate opening is at 12:01 am Monday the 27th, but for whatever reason it has moved up to the time they have been letting people slip in for the past two years.

If I had my way, I would have an EA and get in on the Thursday before opening, but alas, this is not to be. I am happy to have my golden in my hand. Fortunate. And I will be arriving sometime on Tuesday afternoon. No worries about the gate being open, but wondering if this year's gate wait will be longer than last years...3.5 hours from pavement to ticket check.

[quote="junglesmacks"]You've been a member of eplaya for 3 years now, [url=http://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30238&p=483806#p483806]been burning for at least 11 years,[/url] and you don't know when the event starts?

Words fail.[/quote]

Hey genius, I used to show up anytime after midnight Saturday and drive in. Now I hear about D lot and shit. Just asking a question. If you have nothing to contribute, mind your own business.

Hey genius, I used to show up anytime after midnight Saturday and drive in. Now I hear about D lot and shit. Just asking a question. If you have nothing to contribute, mind your own business.

I just ignore the snark. Getting into a flame war with someone on ePlaya is fun to watch, but kinda pointless to participate in. (IMHO)

Anyhow,

Guess 07 was the first year for D-lot (spent over 4hrs there on opening night). From what I can tell, 07 was also the first year that they really started to restrict entry times.

This year the BM Org is on probation with BLM so the probability of adherence to the proscribed entry times is high. I have not seen a 2012 survival guide, so as far as I know - the gates open at the end of Sunday (1 minute after midnight, Monday Morning)...

Love Rice

Roach: "I feel like in this day and age, every girl should know how to build a flamethrower."

danibel wrote:The "official" gate opening is at 12:01 am Monday the 27th, but for whatever reason it has moved up to the time they have been letting people slip in for the past two years.

No one was allowed to "slip in". Gate was opened early at the request of the powers that be due to the congested road conditions from gate road back to Ferntucky.

If I had my way, I would have an EA and get in on the Thursday before opening, but alas, this is not to be. I am happy to have my golden in my hand. Fortunate. And I will be arriving sometime on Tuesday afternoon. No worries about the gate being open, but wondering if this year's gate wait will be longer than last years...3.5 hours from pavement to ticket check.

Rumor has it more lanes have been added to try and cope with the insane amount of traffic trying to enter all at once on Sunday night. This will of course depend on Gate getting enough volunteers to staff any changes accordingly.

What CapSmashy said, there was no slipping, the BLM made the decision on site to start sooner. This year they've taken the additional step of making that call in advance. The gates will open at 6pm on Sunday night. The event's official start time is still 12:01am Monday (and my understanding is that the Playa Events Calendar will only accept listings after then).